Equipment washer

ABSTRACT

An equipment washing machine includes a frame, a tub rigidly mounted to the frame, a supply means for supplying washing fluid, rinsing fluid and drying air cooperating with the tub. A porous basket is rotatably mounted inside the tub. The basket is selectively rotatable by selective rotation means. At least one porous-sided equipment container is releasably mountable into the basket. Each equipment container is adapted for holding flexible articles positioned within the container, by means for securing the articles, for flow of the washing and rinsing fluids and drying air therethrough. The means for securing the articles hold the flexible articles mounted to and substantially separated from each other, and stationary relative to the container as the basket is rotated relative to the tub in the sequential presence of the washing fluid, the rinsing fluid, and the drying air.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S.Continuation-in-Part patent application Ser. No. 10/699,842 filed Nov.4, 2003, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Continuation-in-Partpatent application Ser. No. 10/098,466 filed Mar. 18, 2002, which is aContinuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/376,319filed Aug. 18, 1999, which issued Apr. 23, 2002 as U.S. Pat. No.6,374,644 which claim priority from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/096,841 filed Aug. 18, 1998 entitled Equipment Washer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to the field of devices and methods forwashing clothing or other flexible or semi-rigid articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Anyone who has played sports, or lived with a person who playssports such as football or hockey or like sports requiring the wearingof protective armour such as helmets, boots, shoulder pads and the like,is aware that, although the manufacturer of the equipment likely allowsfor the washing of such equipment, such equipment is only infrequentlywashed by hand due to the bulky nature of the pieces of equipment andhard armour which make using a conventional residential washing machineor Laundromat washing machine tedious, difficult and in some casesimpossible. Further, in some instances sports apparel, such asballerina's shoes, cannot be washed in conventional washing machines dueto the nature of the apparel, for example, due to fragility of thematerial, or otherwise. Other flexible articles such as harnesses forlifting bed-ridden invalids often become soiled and require washing. Dueto their construction washing of such harnesses has in the past beendone by hand. Reference herein to equipment is intended to encompasssports equipment, harnesses, other forms of protective gear or clothing.All of which share the same problem: they are cumbersome or difficult towash and dry, for example without balling of the equipment which isflexible, especially that having hook and loop fasteners, or withoutdamage to equipment having a hard shell and padded liners.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide adevice and in a preferred embodiment a cooperating mesh bag, or air andliquid porous container, or the like, into which equipment, for examplemost if not all of a flexible sports apparel equipment outfit, andprotective gear may be placed therein and subsequently removably securedwithin the generally cylindrically shaped washing cage or basket of awashing machine, wherein the cage or basket is selectively closable and,once closed, agitatable within a water tight enclosure such as a washingmachine tub. Specifically, it is an object to hold the articles ofequipment to be washed fixed in the cage or basket, and to move theentire cage or basket relative to the enclosure to obtain the flushingof water in and around the articles.

[0005] Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide adevice and in a preferred embodiment a cooperating mesh bag, orotherwise air and liquid porous container, or the like, into whichflexible sports apparel equipment outfit, and protective gear may beremovably positioned within the generally cylindrically shaped cage orbasket of a washing machine tub where the mesh container has rigid,generally rectangular perimeter stiffeners pivotally hinged togetheralong one common edge thereof. The mesh bag is securely fastened to thestiffeners. The stiffeners are designed to reflect the dimensions of thegenerally cylindrically shaped cage or basket of a washing machine sothat the container may be nested in a generally vertical aspect withinthe washing machine basket and not protrude beyond the level of theopening of the basket and when spread apart about the hinge will bebrought into contact with the vertical inner surface of the washingmachine basket so as to engage retainers which retain the container inthe basket.

[0006] The mesh bag when constructed from a flexible fabric, may in oneinstance, have a perimeter frame which rigidly supports opposedgenerally rectangular first sides of the mesh bag in a predeterminedangular separation and second sides of the bag in a curve ofpredetermined radius so as to conformally fit within the cylindricalbasket. Alternatively, the mesh bag may be constructed from rigidmaterial having a suitable configuration conforming to the diameter ofthe interior surface of the washing machine basket.

[0007] The interior surface of the washing machine basket may beprovided with either longitudinal clips, channels or partitions whichserve as the retainers, positioned generally parallel to the axis ofrotation about which the washing machine cage or basket is agitated. Theretainers, again, cooperate with the stiffeners to secure the mesh bagwithin the basket during the operation of the washing machine.Alternatively the interior of the washing machine cage or basket may besuitably partitioned so as to removably secure one or more garmentretaining mesh bags.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide amethod and procedure to use the device, and in one embodiment thecooperating mesh bag, or other air and liquid porous container, or thelike, to wash, rinse and dry clothing or other flexible and semi-rigidarticles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In summary, the washing machine of the present invention includesa frame, a tub rigidly mounted to the frame, and a basket rotatablymounted inside the tub. The basket is advantageously also air and waterporous. The basket and/or tub may have at least one air and water porousequipment container is removably mountable into the basket, a releasablyclosable lid. The equipment container or containers may be rigid sidedor flexible sides, such as a mesh bag. The basket is adapted for holdingthe mesh bag, or other air and liquid porous container, into whichflexible articles of apparel or other equipment or protective gear maybe positioned and releasably mounted substantially stationary relativeto the basket as the basket is rotated relative to the tub. A watersupply cooperates with the tub and basket for washing and rinsing thearticles held in the basket while being rotated or agitated within thetub. Advantageously a heater heats an airflow into the tub and basketfor drying following rinsing by rotating the basket in the airflow.

[0010] An equipment washing machine includes a frame, a tub rigidlymounted to the frame and cooperating with a supplier of washing fluid,rinsing fluid and drying air, and a porous basket rotatably mountedinside the tub. At least one porous sided equipment container isresiliently mountable into the basket. The equipment container isadapted for holding flexible articles including articles of apparel orother equipment or protective gear positioned for movement of thewashing fluid, rinsing fluid and drying air therethrough and releasablymounted substantially stationary relative to the container as the basketis rotated relative to the tub with the container mounted in the basket.The water supply cooperates with the tub for washing and rinsing thearticles held in the container while the basket is being rotated oragitated within the tub. Advantageously a heater heats the drying air toprovide a hot airflow into the tub and basket for drying by rotating thebasket in the airflow.

[0011] The equipment washing machine according to one aspect of thepresent invention includes a frame, a tub rigidly mounted to the frame,a supply means for supplying washing fluid, rinsing fluid and drying aircooperating with the tub. A porous basket is rotatably mounted insidethe tub. The basket is selectively rotatable by selective rotationmeans. At least one porous-sided equipment container is releasablymountable into the basket. Each equipment container is adapted forholding flexible articles positioned within the container, by means forsecuring the articles, for flow of the washing and rinsing fluids anddrying air therethrough. The means for securing the articles hold theflexible articles mounted to and substantially separated from eachother, and stationary relative to the container as the basket is rotatedrelative to the tub in the sequential presence of the washing fluid, therinsing fluid, and the drying air.

[0012] In one embodiment, each equipment container may be a clam-shellcontainer. The clam-shell container may include two half-containershinged contiguously along a common side edge, common between the twohalf-containers.

[0013] The basket may have a cylindrical wall and each equipmentcontainer may be mountable into the basket so as to dispose the commonside edge along and adjacent the cylindrical wall of the basket with thetwo half-containers diverging from the common side edge so to disposethe two half-containers adjacent the cylindrical wall. Eachhalf-container may be in cross section orthogonal to the common side, asegment of a circle so as to be generally quonset-shaped when containingthe articles. Thus, a flexible sided half-container may take on thequonset-shape once filled with articles to be washed.

[0014] A curved surface of each half-container, corresponding to an arcbounded by a chord of the segment of a circle, may be substantiallyconformal to an inside surface of the cylindrical wall when thecontainer is mounted in the basket and the container contains articlesto be washed where the half-container is soft-sided, a flat surface ofthe half-container, corresponding to the chord bounding the arc in thesegment of a circle, may include a rigid perimeter frame to support theotherwise soft flexible container. A flexible porous material may bemounted to the frame so as to form the flat surface. The curved surfacemay also be made of the flexible porous material.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the half-container may be made of rigidporous material. The rigid porous material may be mounted on a rigidframe, and the rigid frame may define the quonset shape.

[0016] The curved surface of the container may have a releasablyclosable door or flap or closure (collectively claimed as a door herein)for selective access into the container when the container is removedfrom the basket.

[0017] The clam-shell container may have a vertice bisecting twoclam-shell halves comprising the clam-shell container. Where the basketis a cylinder having an axis of symmetry, a plurality of containersupports may be mounted in the cylinder for holding the clam-shellcontainer in the cylinder with the vertice adjacent a wall of thecylinder and parallel to the axis of symmetry of the cylinder. Thecontainer supports may include rigid members extending parallel to theaxis of symmetry. The container supports may maintain the clam-shellhalves adjacent the wall. The clam-shell container may be mountable intothe basket by, for example, sliding the clam-shell halves and thevertice along the rigid members in a direction parallel to the axis ofsymmetry.

[0018] In a further alternative embodiment, not intended to be limiting,each container may be a single generally quonset-shaped container inwhich case the basket may be compartmentalized to accept the containerin a snug sliding fitment into a mating compartment in the basket so asto dispose the container adjacent an outer wall of the basket. If thebasket is a cylinder, the compartment may dispose a curved surface ofthe container adjacent the outer wall.

[0019] The basket may have a plurality of compartments for holding acorresponding plurality of the containers. The compartments may beradially spaced about the axis of symmetry, around the outer wall.

[0020] The method of the preferred embodiment of the present inventionincludes the steps of rotating the porous basket, and thus itsattachments and contents, while completing one or more loop cyclesconsisting of repetitions of various combinations of injecting water,injecting chemicals, agitating the basket for a set period of runningtime and then draining the basket. Following the last repetition, theprocess terminates with a spin step followed by a drying step. Each ofthe above steps entails a variety of user-defined options which may beadjusted to reflect the nature of the wash load contained in the washingmachine.

[0021] In a further aspect, the present invention may be characterizedas including a washing machine having a tub and an equipment containerselectively rotatably mounted inside the tub, wherein the equipmentcontainer is adapted to hold a plurality of flexible articles separatedfrom each other and substantially immobile against, and relative to, theequipment container. A method of cleaning the flexible articlesaccording to yet a further aspect includes the sequential steps of:

[0022] (a) mounting the flexible articles into the equipment containerso as to be held separated within, and substantially immobile againstand relative to, the equipment container,

[0023] (b) rotating the equipment container relative to the tub at awashing speed so as to pass the flexible articles through washing andrinsing fluids in the tub when the tub is at least partially filled withwashing or rinsing fluids,

[0024] (c) at least partially filling the tub with washing fluid,

[0025] (d) at least draining the washing fluid from the tub,

[0026] (e) partially filling the tub with rinsing fluid,

[0027] (f) continuing to rotate the equipment container relative to thetub so as to pass the flexible articles through the rinsing fluid,

[0028] (g) draining the rinsing fluid from the tub, p1 (h) rotating theequipment container at a spin-drying rotational speed which is greaterthan the washing speed and sufficient to centrifugally drain fluid fromthe articles.

[0029] The present invention may also include a computer program productwhich includes:

[0030] (a) computer readable program code means for causing the rotationof the basket at a first rotational speed so as to pass articles held inthe basket through the washing fluid in the tube once at least partiallyfilled, for the duration of a timed first wash iteration;

[0031] (b) computer readable program code means for causing, once thebasket is rotating at the first rotational speed the supply of washingfluid into the tub;

[0032] (c) computer readable program code means for causing the drainingof the washing fluid from the tub,

[0033] (d) computer readable program code means for causing the supplyof rinsing fluid to the tub;

[0034] (e) computer readable program code means for causing the drainingof the rinsing fluid from the tub;

[0035] (f) computer readable program code means for causing one or morerepetitions of the supplying washing fluid to the tub, the drainingwashing fluid from the tub, the supplying rinsing fluid to the tub, andthe draining the rinsing fluid from the tub;

[0036] (g) computer readable program code means for causing rotation ofthe tub at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotationalspeed for centrifugally spin drying the articles in the tub;

[0037] (h) computer readable program code means for causing a supply ofdrying air into the tub to dry the articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038]FIG. 1 is, in partially cut away plan view, the equipment washeraccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view along line 2-2 of theequipment washer of FIG. 1.

[0040]FIG. 3 is an isometric view, partially cut away, of the equipmentwasher of FIG. 1.

[0041]FIG. 3a is an isometric view of one embodiment of an equipmentcontainer.

[0042]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the equipmentwasher according to the present invention.

[0043]FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway isometric view of the washer of FIG.4.

[0044]FIG. 6 is a partially exploded isometric view of the washer ofFIG. 4 showing the equipment container removed.

[0045]FIG. 7 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of theequipment washer according to the present invention.

[0046]FIG. 8 is a partially exploded partially cut away isometric viewof the equipment washer of FIG. 7.

[0047]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of one rigid-frame equipment containerof FIG. 8 with one side opened to receive articles of equipment.

[0048]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a further alternative embodiment of theequipment washer of the present invention.

[0049]FIG. 11 is an isometric view of one rigid-frame equipmentcontainer of FIG. 10.

[0050]FIG. 12 is a flow chart of one preferred embodiment of the methodaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0051] With reference to the drawing figures, wherein similar charactersof reference denote corresponding parts in each view, a typical washingmachine 10 has an exterior frame 12, a watertight tub 14 rigidly mountedto frame 12, and a basket 16 rotatably mounted inside tub 14. Tub 14 isclosable by a lid 18. Washing machine 10 may be agitated by a motor 20about axis A, which may be positioned either vertically as illustratedor horizontally as found in my presently pending U.S. application Ser.No. 10/098,466 and seen in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,644, both ofwhich incorporated herein by reference.

[0052] Basket 16, as may be seen in FIG. 3, is provided with elongatedclips such as channels 22 a and 22 b which are mounted vertically to theinside surface of basket 16 and extend generally parallel to axis A.

[0053] Mesh equipment container 30 which may in one embodiment be in thenature of a garment bag, is provided for securely holding the articlesof sporting equipment. Advantageously the bag will hold all of theequipment for a single player. Container 30 is placed in basket 16. Theuse of container 30 may prevent sporting equipment from becomingintermingled or lost. Container 30 may be readily and efficiently loadedwith garments or other equipment and then placed into basket 16. Anequipment container 30 for articles of apparel or protective gear for ahockey player, for example, will of necessity be quite large. FIGS. 1-3illustrate a washing machine compatible for a single equipment container30, FIG. 3a illustrating an example of a container 30.

[0054] Equipment container 30 may, as illustrated, take the form of agarment bag having mesh construction, mounted on a first side 32 ofwhich to, so as to extend across, rigid, opposed facing, generallyrectangular, perimeter stiffeners 34 a and 34 b pivotally mounted orhinged to one another, for example by rings 36 along their sides 38. Thesecond side 40 of mesh bag 30 defines a voluminous interior cavitybetween it and first sides 32. Second side 40 has a perimeter edge whichextends contiguously around the perimeter edge of first side 32 secondside 40 may be conformably curved so as to conform to the shape ofequipment to be immovably held within container 30. The voluminousinterior cavity is shown by way of example as side compartments 42formed intermediately of first side 32 and second side 40. The sidecompartments are readily accessible through flexible hatches or flaps 44or the like which may be releasably closed by means of fasteners knownin the art such as zippers or strips of hook and loop fasteners or thelike. Flaps 44 close corresponding openings which are convenientlylarge. Flaps 44 may be opened to access the interior cavities of sidecompartments 42.

[0055] Side compartments 42 may themselves be further compartmentalizedto accommodate specific articles of equipment such as sports equipment(not shown). When such equipment has been inserted into compartments 42,and flaps 44 closed and fastened, the mesh equipment container 30 maythen be placed into a basket 16 where the container is designed for aparticular application so that the number of compartments matches thenumber of separate items to be washed for that application, loading of atransport using the container reduces the worry that a piece ofequipment has either been left out or may be left behind. Container 30when gripped medially of the long sides of stiffeners 34, for examplesides 38 b, may then be elevated above tub 14. By slightly unhinging,that is, angularly separating stiffeners 34 a and 34 b, the distal ends39 of the stiffeners may be brought into vertical alignment withchannels 22 a secured to the inside surface of basket 16, and sides 38may vertically align with channels 22 b so that container 30 may bedropped into place inside basket 16.

[0056] As may be seen in FIGS. 4 through 6, basket 16 may be modified soas to be capable of accepting a plurality of containers 30 such as thetwo large mesh equipment containers 30 illustrated. Basket 16 issupported by upper and lower radial supports 48 and an axial spindle 50.Support channels 52 for equipment containers 30 are positioned radiallyof spindle 50 on the inner face of basket 16. In illustrated example,not intended to be limiting, each equipment container 30 is securedwithin basket 16 in a similar drop down manner to that illustrated inFIG. 3.

[0057] As seen in FIG. 4, plates 56 secured to each end of axial spindle50 have indents 58. Indents 58 are aligned radially of spindle 50 withcorresponding channels 52 on the inner face of basket 16. In thatembodiment, when only a single equipment container 30 is utilized,baffle 60 may be inserted to equalize the rotational loading as basket16 is agitated through washing fluid in tub 14.

[0058]FIGS. 7 through 9 depict a further variation wherein basket 16 ismodified by internal baffles 64 placed medially within basket 16 so asto create between baffles 64 and basket 16 two outer compartments intowhich equipment containers 30 can be placed. In this aspect thecontainers 30 may preferably be rigid containers where the frame 70 is arigid perimeter frame, as illustrated in FIG. 9, with a open meshcovering, or alternatively container 30 may have a frame with perforatedmesh like areas integrally moulded from rigid plastic or the like. Frame70 has divergent generally rectangular bases 72 and 72 a, which betweenthem include an angle of generally 90 degrees. Side compartments 76,which may be further compartmentalized, are generally arcuate andcomprise in section a circular segment whose radius permits readyinsertion within a basket 16 of washer 10. Each compartment 76 isaccessible by way of hatch 80, which is hinged to compartment 76 as at82. Hatch 80 is securable in a closed position by means of springlatches 84 or the like.

[0059] As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, side compartments 76 of equipmentcontainer 30, illustrated in FIG. 9, may alternatively be designed asseparate equipment containers 90. This design will permit up to four ofsuch containers 90 to be inserted into a suitably compartmentalizedwasher.

[0060] As seen in FIG. 12, the method of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention begins with rotation step 12 a in which the user mayset the direction of rotation of basket 16, and the duration and speedof such rotation. The direction of rotation may be clockwise,counter-clockwise, or alternatively sequentially both clockwise andcounter-clockwise. The duration of continuous rotation in one directionmay be up to 250 seconds, with up to 100 seconds of waiting time betweensequential rotations. The speed of rotation may be up to 30 rpm. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, basket 16 rotates clockwise orcounter-clockwise at 14 rpm for 30 seconds, then stops rotating for 10seconds, then rotates in the opposite direction for 30 seconds. Therotation procedure then begins anew and continues for the duration ofthe steps outlined in FIG. 12.

[0061] In one embodiment, the process steps are controlled by aprogrammable digital processor. The processor is programmed to executesteps according the logic flow chart of FIG. 12a. The process of FIG. 12may involve a looping, that is, repeating steps 12 b to 12 f illustrateddiagrammatically by loop 12 i. First, basket 16 is brought up to itswashing rotational speed approximately 30 rpm. Rotating the basketbefore adding washing fluid keeps down the weight of the basket whenloaded with articles because they are still dry, and thus reduces thepower required to accelerate the basket and reduces also the time tobring the basket up to speed for the equivalent motor driving therotation, keeping in mind that the basket may weight in the order offifty pounds. Cold or hot water, or both, are then injected in step 12 binto the washing machine. The temperature of the water may be set by auser adjusted amount in a range from 10° C. to 99° C. A temperatureregulator adjusts the relative proportion of hot and cold water flowinginto the washing machine. In one embodiment, the washing machine of thepresent invention may hold up to 450 litres (L) of water beforeoverflowing. In the method of the preferred embodiment, the watertemperature of the wash cycle is set at 50° C. using a preferred watervolume of 270 L per iteration of loop 12 i.

[0062] The next step is chemical injection step 12 c wherein variouschemicals are injected through one or more pumps into the washingmachine. In the preferred embodiment, successive iterations of loop 12 iinclude successive injections of an enzyme-based solution and a deepcleaning detergent to facilitate stain removal, a sanitizer forneutralizing odour and germs, and lastly a fragrance solution to providea fresh and pleasing scent to the clothing or other material beingwashed.

[0063] In step 12 d, the length of the run time for an iteration of loop12 i may be set by a user or pre-programmed to a maximum of 255 minutes.In the preferred embodiment, a wash iteration in which the stain removalchemicals are injected lasts 40 minutes, followed by a rinse iterationlasting 5 minutes and a sanitizing iteration lasting 10 minutes.

[0064] After each iteration of run step 12 d, drain step 12 e occurswherein the used water is drained from the washing machine over one ormore two minute intervals. This step completes an iteration of loop 12i, after which either a new iteration commences with the addition ofwater in step 12 b or, loop 12 i ends and the method continues withwater-extraction or spin step 12 g.

[0065] In extraction step 12 g, basket 16 is spun at a maximum speed of200 rpm for a maximum length of time of 255 minutes. In the preferredembodiment, the parameters are set at 150 rpm for approximately 15minutes.

[0066] Following extraction step 12 g, a drying step 12 h completes theprocess. In this step, the variable parameters are drying or heatingtime, fan time and temperature. The drying or heating time may be set upto 255 minutes, and in the preferred embodiment lasts 45 minutes. Thedrying time is followed by fan time, which may last up to 255 minutesbut in the preferred embodiment lasts at least as long as the dryingtime and is typically set at 50 minutes. The temperature may be set ashigh as 99° C. and in the preferred embodiment is set at 55° C.

[0067] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light ofthe foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications arepossible in the practice of this invention without departing from theobject of immobilizing items of equipment in, and relative to, anequipment container, and rotating the entire equipment container withina bath of washing fluid prior to rinsing and spin drying.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a washing machine having a tub and anequipment container selectively rotatably mounted inside the tub,wherein the equipment container is adapted to hold a plurality offlexible articles separated from each other and substantially immobileagainst, and relative to, the equipment container, a method of cleaningthe flexible articles comprising the sequential steps of: (a) mountingthe flexible articles into the equipment container so as to be heldseparated within, and substantially immobile against and relative to,the equipment container, (b) rotating the equipment container relativeto the tub at a washing speed so as to pass the flexible articlesthrough washing and rinsing fluids in the tub when the tub is at leastpartially filled with washing or rinsing fluids, (c) at least partiallyfilling the tub with washing fluid, (d) at least draining the washingfluid from the tub, (e) partially filling the tub with rinsing fluid,(f) continuing to rotate the equipment container relative to the tub soas to pass the flexible articles through the rinsing fluid, (g) drainingthe rinsing fluid from the tub, (h) rotating the equipment container ata spin-drying rotational speed which is greater than said washing speedand sufficient to centrifugally drain fluid from said articles.
 2. In anequipment washing machine having: a frame, a tub rigidly mounted to saidframe, a supply means for supplying washing fluid, rinsing fluid anddrying air cooperating with said tub, a porous basket rotatably mountedinside said tub, said basket selectively rotatable by selective rotationmeans, at least one porous-sided equipment container releasablymountable into said basket, each equipment container of said at leastone equipment container adapted for holding flexible articles positionedwithin said container, by means for securing said articles, for flow ofthe washing and rinsing fluids and drying air there through and forholding the flexible articles mounted to and substantially separatedfrom each other, and stationary relative to said container as saidbasket is rotated relative to said tub in the sequential presence of thewashing fluid, the rinsing fluid, and the drying air; a method ofwashing, rinsing and drying clothing or other flexible or semi-rigidarticles comprising the sequential steps of: (a) rotating said basket soas to pass the articles through the washing fluid at a first rotationalspeed; (b) supplying said washing fluid to said tub; (c) draining saidwashing fluid from said tub; (d) supplying said rinsing fluid to saidtub; (e) rotating said basket so as to pass the articles through therinsing fluid; (f) draining said rinsing fluid from said tub; (g)rotating said basket at a second rotational speed greater than saidfirst rotational speed so as to centrifugally spin dry said articles. 3.The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeating one ormore sequential repetitions of said steps (a)-(e) in claim 1 before step(f).
 4. A computer program product for use in an equipment washingmachine, wherein the washing machine has a frame, a tub rigidly mountedto said frame, a supply means for supplying washing fluid, rinsing fluidand drying air cooperating with said tub, a porous basket rotatablymounted inside said tub, said basket selectively rotatable by selectiverotation means, at least one porous-sided equipment container releasablymountable into said basket, each equipment container of said at leastone equipment container adapted for holding flexible articles positionedwithin said container, by means for securing said articles, for flow ofthe washing and rinsing fluids and drying air there through and forholding the flexible articles mounted to and substantially separatedfrom each other, and stationary relative to said container as saidbasket is rotated relative to said tub in the sequential presence of thewashing fluid, the rinsing fluid, and the drying air; the computerprogram product comprising: (c) computer readable program code means forcausing the rotation of said basket at a first rotational speed so as topass articles held in the basket through the washing fluid in the tubeonce at least partially filled, for the duration of a timed first washiteration; (d) computer readable program code means for causing, oncesaid basket is rotating at said first rotational speed the supply ofwashing fluid into said tub; (c) computer readable program code meansfor causing the draining of said washing fluid from said tub, (d)computer readable program code means for causing the supply of rinsingfluid to said tub; (e) computer readable program code means for causingthe draining of said rinsing fluid from said tub; (f) computer readableprogram code means for causing one or more repetitions of said supplyingwashing fluid to said tub, said draining washing fluid from said tub,said supplying rinsing fluid to said tub, and said draining said rinsingfluid from said tub; (g) computer readable program code means forcausing rotation of said tub at a second rotational speed greater thansaid first rotational speed for centrifugally spin drying said articlesin said tub; (h) computer readable program code means for causing asupply of drying air into said tub to dry said articles.